8/18/05 ~ Castleberry Hill progresses towards becoming landmark district

Castleberry Hill’s attempt to become a landmark district is progressing, residents learned at Monday’s Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) meeting.

On that day, over 700 packages were mailed to parcel owners in the area. The contents included regulations and maps of the designated areas. There are three areas slated for consideration: Subarea 1, primarily properties within the triangle created by Peters, Walker and Nelson Streets; Subarea 2, along Whitehall Street and north to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and Subarea 3, along Northside Drive. The neighborhood has been officially nominated as a landmark district. If accepted, Castleberry Hill would join other City of Atlanta landmark districts such as Oakland Cemetery, Cabbagetown and Druid Hills.

In other news, the fourth annual Castleberry Hill Loft Tour will be Oct. 15 and 16. To date, there are $14,000 in sponsorships and $2,000 in host sponsorships. The committee is seeking additional host sponsors. Among the rewards of host sponsorship are multiple tickets to the loft tour for friends and/or clients and entry to the sponsor/host party.

Currently, 13 lofts are included on the tour, but interested residents can still submit their home for judge’s approval. Individuals or businesses interested in sponsorship or residents wanting to include their home on the tour should e-mail tour@castleberryhill.org.

Additionally, Henry Davenport, a longtime Castleberry Hill resident, appeared before CHNA to seek approval for a beer and wine license and described his plans for a jazz/wine bar at 281 Peters St. Davenport says he is “looking to create an environment for people in the neighborhood to come in and have a glass of wine” and plans to have “good music” at Studio 281. CHNA voted to approve Davenport’s request for a beer and wine license.

It was also announced that Castleberry Hill hosted The Concierge Society of Atlanta (CSA). The meeting was held to introduce and promote Castleberry Hill and CHNA has received positive feedback after the meeting. Neighborhood businesses donated prizes for a raffle, and attendees were each given two tickets to the 2005 Loft Tour.

The summer edition of The Chronicle and posters encouraging people to pick up after their dogs are back from the printer. Look for both items in buildings throughout the neighborhood. Businesses interested in displaying a poster should contact Tami Donnelly at president@castleberryhill.org.

Also, Castleberry Hill has created new neighborhood T-shirts. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Visit www.castleberryhill.org/chna_tshirts.php to view and purchase the shirts.

The CHNA Public Safety Committee is looking for residents with opinions on how to make the neighborhood safer. Any such resident interested in joining the committee should e-mail stefanturk@gmail.com.

Upcoming events for Castleberry Hill neighbors include a happy hour at SLICE, 259 Peters St., on Aug.18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The next neighborhood clean up will occur Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This clean-up day will be the weekend before Castleberry Hill’s Loft Tour. The Neighborhood Association will also need some volunteers to spot clean mid-week before the event.